Ink divider for multicolor ink rollers



Aug. 3, 1965 w. FELLER INK DIVIDER FOR MULTICOLOR INK ROLLERS Filed Nov. 1, 1963 INVENTOR WERNER FELLER United States Patent 3,198,113 INK DIVIDER FOR MULTICOLOR INK ROLLERS Werner Feller, Allmendingen, near Thun, Switzerland, assignor to Maschinenfahrilr Winkler, Fallert & Co. AG, Bern, Switzerland Filed Nov. 1, 1963, Ser. No. 326,728 Claims priority, application Sweden, Nov. 13, 1962, 12,164/62 6 Claims. (Cl. 101-208) This invention relates in general to multicolored printing machines and, in particular, to a new and useful device for preventing the flowing together of two separate colors below a color knife acting on a doctor roller of a printing machine.

The present invention has particular application for separating of the colors employed in multi-color printing machines. Color printing mechanisms for relief printing machines, offset printing machines and the like may in clude, for example, the printing of four newspaper pages on the same printing cylinder with inks of different colors. The present invention is concerned with the prevention of the flowing together of the different colors, particularly below the color knife or doctor blades, where the colors tend to form into beads due to the damming action of the knife.

Attempts have been made in the prior art to separate the colors by means of wedges inserted below the knife and acting on the doctor roller, but devices of this nature have not been eflicient. Devices of this nature have been employed where the color knife used was located either in the ink supply or above the ink supply. In both cases, the wedges which are employed impede the movability of the color knife, and there is much difficulty in insuring that they are accurately fitted. Other similar devices, including rubber seals between the color sections, have been employed but all have the disadvantage that the colors form a bead due to the damming action of the color knife and thus intermingle and flow together.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a separating wedge, or wedge compartment member, mounted to bear against the doctor roller which contains a plurality of colors and to insure that the separate colors are guided outwardly in separate paths and returned to their respective color reservoirs.

A feature of the construction is that the compartment wedge members comprise two wedge-like plates, which are curved to conform to the configuration of the doctor roller, and which are made of a construction such that they meet adjacent their lower ends, but diverge outwardly at their ends for directing the colors in separate, opposite directions.

In a preferred arrangement, means are provided for biasing the compartment wedges against the doctor roller to insure adequate separation of the colors and their return to their respective compartments. The compartment wedge plates may advantageously be formed to intersect in the manner of an X adjacent their lower ends and then diverge outwardly, or they may be formed in a curved formation, coming together at a spaced location from their ends and then diverging outwardly at their ends.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide improved means for maintaining the separation of the colors on a printing roller.

A further object of the invention is to provide a wedge member for separating colors on a doctor roller of a ,multi-color printing apparatus, which wedge member comprises a pair of spaced parallel plates curved to conform to the surface of the roller and adapted to bear against the roller for maintaining the separation of colors, the

plates converging adjacent their lower ends and then diverging outwardly for deflecting the colors in separate opposite directions.

A further object of the invention is to provide a compartment wedge for maintaining color separation on a doctor roller of a multi-color printing device, which includes a pair of spaced plate members held together by a spacer plate, the plate members being of a curved configuration on their outer edges to conform to and to bear against the roller having a plurality of colors distributed over the periphery thereof at uniform spaced intervals; with means for biasing the compartment wedge member into engagement with the doctor roller and wherein the compartment wedge member includes plates which diverge outwardly at their lower ends for deflecting colors backwardly into respective reservoirs for the colors.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for maintaining the separation of colors on a multi-color roller of a printing mechanism, which is simple in design, rugged in construction and economical to manufacture.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its use, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated and described preferred embodiments of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a partial sectional and partial elevational view of a printing device having a color separating compartment wedge constructed in accordance with the invention;

PEG. 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a partial section similar to FIG. 2 of another embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawings in particular, the invention embodied therein comprises a printing machine generally designated 20 having a doctor roller 1 onto the surface of which a plurality of colors are distributed by separate rubber reservoir rollers 4 which rotate in respect to one of a plurality of individual reservoirs having distinct colors therein, such as the reservoirs 2 and 3. The rubber rollers 4 apply color to the surface of the doctor roller 1 in a width corresponding to the width of the particular color to be applied to a paper web. A doctor blade or color knife 5 is mounted on an ink beam 6 by means of a securing bolt 22 in a position to continuously doctor the ink from the surface of the doctor roller 1.

In accordance with the invention, the color knife or doctor blade 5 is made with recesses 5a which provide a separation area for the separation of the colors which are applied to the various sections of the doctor roller 1. The recesses 5a are in a number corresponding to the number of compartment wedge members or wedges 24 which are to be employed and in dependence on the number of colors which are applied to the various sections of the doctor roller 1.

As indicated particularly in FIG. 2, the compartment wedge member 24 comprises a pair of plate members 7 and 8 having curved surfaces 7a and 8a which conform to the surfaces of the doctor roller 1. The plates 7 and 8 are held in spaced parallel relationship by means of a cross plate 19 and the whole assembly is biased by a spring 17 in a direction to cause the curved edges 7a and 8a to contact the surface of the doctor roller .1. A ball member 16 is biased against the plate 19 by the spring 17 and projects into and is centered in an opening 18 of the plate. The ball member is held in a recess of a block the ink beam 6.

A feature of the invention is that the plate members 7 and 8 are constructed to intersect at 9tat a location at which the plates 7 and 8 diverge outwardly from ,the doctor roller 1, Thelower ends of the plates diverge outwardly from the intersecting point 9 forming dropping off edges 11 and 11'.

Colors on the roller 1 are wiped-ofi. color drops downwardly along the plates 7 and '8 and is caused to move outwardly in opposite directions for return to respective reservoirs 2 and 3, which hold the different colors. 1

A variationof the invention is indicated in, FIG. 3,

which shows color plates 7' and 8 which are curved ad' jacent their lower ends to intersect at 1% and they diverge outwardly to form dropping off edges 11', and 11',

' While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that this invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is: 1. A device for preventing the comingling of two colors on a, color roller below a color knife and above a reservoir having separate color compartments in a print-' ing machine, comprising a compartment wedge formed. by two substantially parallel. plates having curved outer maintained separate and the i j 4. roller at a location adjacent'the change of color thereon, said compartment wedge member comprising two spaced parallel plates having curved edges adapted to conform to the color roller, to bear against the roller and to maintain the separation of ink thereon, said plates having lower ends extending downwardly toward said reservoir adjacent the juncture of two' of said plurality of separate color compartments, said plates coming together adjacent their lower ends and diverging outwardly in a direction away from said color roller to their lower ends for deflecting the color backwardiy into the respective color reservoirs.

roller at a location above said reservoir, the improvement comprising a compartment wedge member adapted to be from theintersection tothe lower ends for the purpose lower ends which intersect and diverge outwardly from r the intersection to the lower ends.

4. In a printing press and the like including a rotatable color roller, means to apply a plurality of colors to said.

roller at individual areas across the width thereof, a reservoir having a plurality of separate color compartments for the respective color inks employed and a doctor blade member arranged to doctor ink from the surface of said roller located above the reservoir, the improvement comjacent the juncture of two of said plurality of separate color compartments, said plates coming together ,adjacent their lower ends and diverging outwardly and away -from said color roller to their lower ends for deflecting the color backwardly into the respective color reservoirs,

a beam member, said doctor blade being mounted on said beam member, said beammember having a recess, a ball mounted'in' said recess and projecting outwardly toward said compartment wedge member and bearing against said cross plate, and spring means biasing said ball against said cross plate to hold said-wedge memberin position against prising a compartment wedge member adapted to be supsaid roller.

6. In a printing press according to claim 5, wherein said ball is, located adjacent the upper end of said compartment wedge member to urge the upper end of said wedge member into engagement with said color roller.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,890,922 12/32- Waller 101207 1,893,148 I ROBERT E. BULFREY, Primary Examiner. ENGENE R, CAPOZIO, Examiner.

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1. A DEVICE FOR PREVENTING THE COMINGLING OF TWO COLORS ON A COLOR ROLLER BELOW A COLOR KNIFE AND ABOVE A RESERVOIR HAVING SEPARATE COLOR COMPARTMENTS IN A PRINTING MACHINE, COMPRISING A COMPARTMENT WEDGE FORMED BY TWO SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL PLATES HAVING CURVED OUTER EDGES WHICH ARE ADAPTED TO BEAR AGAINST A COLOR ROLLER, SAID PLATES HAVING LOWER ENDS ADAPTED TO EXTEND DOWNWARDLY TOWARD A RESERVOIR ADJACENT THE JUNCTURE OF TWO OF THE SEPARATE COLOR COMPARTMENTS AND BEING SHAPED TO INTERSECT ADJACENT THEIR LOWER ENDS AND DIVERGING OUTWARDLY FROM THE INTERSECTION TO THE LOWER ENDS FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEFLECTING THE COLOR FROM THE SEPARATE SIDES OF SAID WEDGE MEMBER OUTWARDLY AND IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS TOWARD THE RESPECTIVE COLOR COMPARTMENTS OF A RESERVOIR. 